It almost became mundane, seeing Malcom Floyd do the spectacular for so long.

He'd glide down the field during Chargers practices, track a deep pass from quarterback Philip Rivers, rotate his body and, with that long 6-foot-5 frame, make the type of acrobatic catch over a defender that made visitors gawk and teammates shrug: "Malcom being Malcom."

This year, it's different.

He is becoming a new Malcom.

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The Chargers wide receiver can still stretch the field, still be that receiver who has averaged 17.4 yards per catch since 2008, third in the NFL over that span among players with at least 200 receptions. But in coach Mike McCoy's new offense, Floyd must be more balanced, and that has been his focus.

Forget the vertical-oriented attack of years past under which Floyd thrived.

The ball is expected to leave Rivers' hand quicker in 2013. While some situations will still call for going deep, Floyd must do more if he is to see regular snaps.

"I’m running different routes," Floyd said. "These coaches are really working on my lateral ability, a lot of these drills this offseason, getting in and out of my breaks. It’s details like foot placement on curl routes, reprogramming my brain. ... I’m 10 years old in this league, but I feel a lot better than last year. I’m very excited about this upcoming year."

Floyd says he's developing into a more technical receiver.

He credits the new coaches, from the strength and conditioning staff for those 400-yard sprints in April to the coaches in his position room. In January, Fred Graves replaced Charlie Joiner as the Chargers' wide receivers coach. Not to be overlooked was the hiring of Nick Sirianni, an offensive quality control coach and former college wide receiver who oversaw the Chiefs' wideouts last year.

There is no discounting Joiner's expertise and influence; he was highly reputable as a player and coach.

That said, he was 65 at the time of his offseason retirement. On Saturday, Siranni turned 32.

Sirianni has been able to take a more hands-on approach, illustrating exactly how he expects a route to be run by running it himself.

"He’s able to release for us and show us how to do it, the foot placement in and out of breaks," Floyd said. "It helps so much because when you can mimic it and implement it into your game, you feel the difference. Instead of just going out there and trying to play on natural talent — and you’re trying your hardest — but when you’re looking back at it compared to what coach is telling you, you’re not really doing it right."

The soft-spoken Floyd isn't the most vocal of veterans.

Instead, he leads a young Chargers receivers corps by example.

Floyd has embraced the change in the new offense, understanding the more things he learns to do, the more he'll be sent onto the field to do them.

It's a little bittersweet to look back.

Now 31, Floyd said he appreciates that he's remained with the Chargers all this time. He entered the league an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming, and he's made that opportunity last.

On the other hand, until now, he never committed to being this dynamic of a receiver.

"I really wish I knew these things 10 years before," Floyd said. "I feel like I’ve been relying so much on natural talent in the past. Now, with these new coaches, they just work my body up, these new routes and these new drills we’ve been doing. I think it’s helping our receiving corps as a whole. I feel like I’ve been running my routes more like a shorter receiver who is quick in and out of his breaks.

"I think they can mix me in now in some intermediate to short routes. ... That’s good for me to come out and be able to help our team in a bigger way."